First the Merry Christmas messages disappeared from store greetings and signs, then school districts changed Christmas break to Winter Break and now the always festive (and sometimes regrettable) office Christmas party is under attack.

This week, Orange County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jody Crump voted against a long-standing, annual tradition that allows all county offices to close for two and half hours on a decided December day for employees to attend a Christmas luncheon.

But Crump said he's not a grinch trying to create a war against Christmas. Rather, he is just trying to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars.

County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said in his 17 years as judge the county has always approved the party date and time without any problems.

"It's always done transparently. We put it on the agenda and the commissioners approved it and it was all done in a legal manner," Thibodeaux said.

While county officials do not spend any taxpayer money on the lunch (employees pay for their own meals), they do not dock employee pay for the extra hour and half they are not working, Thibodeaux said.

The judge said it's a small, appreciative gesture to the county employees who, as public servants, are not eligible for incentives or bonuses.